engine cleaning

This is sorta a three part thread...

1. I just got done cleaning my engine quite a bit today. How does the improvement look?

Before:
http://blackevilweredragon.spymac.com/mycar/7.jpg

After:
http://blackevilweredragon.spymac.com/mycar/8.jpg

2. Is it me, or does it look like the water pump looks worse? The "Before" picture was taken a year ago, before I started even driving this car, or got it started.

3. How do you suggest to clean an engine, better than what I've done so far? It's SO hard and back breaking, constantly leaning over the engine, and sweat dripping from your forehead.. There's GOT to be an easier way.

This is sorta a three part thread...

1. I just got done cleaning my engine quite a bit today. How does the improvement look?

Before:
http://blackevilweredragon.spymac.com/mycar/7.jpg

After:
http://blackevilweredragon.spymac.com/mycar/8.jpg

2. Is it me, or does it look like the water pump looks worse? The "Before" picture was taken a year ago, before I started even driving this car, or got it started.

3. How do you suggest to clean an engine, better than what I've done so far? It's SO hard and back breaking, constantly leaning over the engine, and sweat dripping from your forehead.. There's GOT to be an easier way.

I don't know how you cleaned your engine, but I always use a high pressure hose, being mindful of the ignition system, carb and anywhere that water can find its way into the engine. You've seen the pictures on my website (in my sig) of how the engine comes out. I clean it once every 3 months or so - never giving any deposits the opportunity of hardening or baking on. I do it at night time, so I never really break a sweat (unless it's humid outside). Pretty easy to do. You can use the high pressure hose at a carwash, being mindful of the things (except the carb) that I added above. Pay particular attention to the water pump area (OptiSpark distributor doesn't like moisture).

If you use anything corrosive to clean the engine (Greased Lightning, Simple Green, Orange Power etc), that will cause the water pump to look like that. If you do use that stuff (I do), just keep it away from aluminum and you should be fine.

I don't know how you cleaned your engine, but I always use a high pressure hose, being mindful of the ignition system, carb and anywhere that water can find its way into the engine. You've seen the pictures on my website (in my sig) of how the engine comes out. I clean it once every 3 months or so - never giving any deposits the opportunity of hardening or baking on. I do it at night time, so I never really break a sweat (unless it's humid outside). Pretty easy to do. You can use the high pressure hose at a carwash, being mindful of the things (except the carb) that I added above. Pay particular attention to the water pump area (OptiSpark distributor doesn't like moisture).

If you use anything corrosive to clean the engine (Greased Lightning, Simple Green, Orange Power etc), that will cause the water pump to look like that. If you do use that stuff (I do), just keep it away from aluminum and you should be fine.
The scary part, is that this was my first time cleaning my engine, and the water pump looked this way since I got the car. So I feel the water pump is actually leaking somewhere.. But the coolant levels are always fine.

I used a wet rag to clean my engine, I literally scrubbed the damned thing for hours, before using a high powered air hose to get the leaves and hair (yes, long womans hair.. i wont even begin to figure that out). I didn't want to use a water hose to clean it, because I didn't want anything wet (especially with the already existing on-going problem of hesitation)...

What about steam cleaning? Detail shops do that and they turn out pretty good but I dunno where you can do it.

I use a garden hose (hot water), detergent, and wipe things dry.

In about 20 minutes, I go from this:

http://www.finemotorcars.org/files/1995CamaroEngineDirty.jpg

To this:

http://www.finemotorcars.org/files/1995CamaroEngineClean.jpg

From this:

http://www.finemotorcars.org/files/1997GCEngineDirty.jpg

To this:

http://www.finemotorcars.org/files/1997GCEngineClean.jpg

From this:

http://www.finemotorcars.org/files/2001SentraEngineDirty.jpg

To this:

http://www.finemotorcars.org/files/2001SentraEngineClean.jpg

From this:

http://www.finemotorcars.org/files/2001SunfireEngineDirty.jpg

To this:

http://www.finemotorcars.org/files/2001SunfireEngineClean.jpg

Just did the engine on a 4runner for a guy at work. Used our new 2000psi max, 250 Degree $5000 steam cleaner. This thing gets HOT! Completely effortless and works good. Sorry no pics. BB's work looks really good, btw.